| Submandibular space | |
| Latin: | spatium submandibulare |
The submandibular space is a fascial space of the head and neck (sometimes also termed fascial spaces or tissue spaces). It is a potential space, and is paired on either side, located on the superficial surface of the mylohyoid muscle between the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric muscle.[1] The space corresponds to the anatomic region termed the submandibular triangle, part of the anterior triangle of the neck.
The anatomic boundaries of each submandibular space are:[2]
The communications of the submandibular space are:
In health, the contents of the space are:
Infections may spread into the submandibular space, e.g. odontogenic infections, often related to the mandibular molar teeth. This is due to the fact that the attachment of mylohyoid (the mylohyoid line) becomes more superior towards the posterior of the mandible, meaning that the roots of the posterior teeth are more likely to be below mylohyoid than above.
Signs and symptoms of a submandibular space infection might include trismus (difficulty opening the mouth), inability to palpate (feel) the inferior border of the mandible and swelling of the face over the submandibular region.
If the space contains pus, the usual treatment is by incision and drainage. The site of the incision is extra-oral, and usually made 2–3 cm below, and parallel to, the inferior border of the mandible.
Ludwig's angina is a serious infection involving the submandibular, sublingual and submental spaces bilaterally.[3] Ludwig's angina may extend into the pharyngeal and cervical spaces, and the swelling can compress the airway and cause dyspnoea (difficulty breathing).